Dr. Doyin Okupe, former spokesperson for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and the Director-General of Peter Obi’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Organisation, has declared that the idea of Atiku Abubakar becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027 is untenable due to geopolitical considerations.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Okupe stressed that while Atiku, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, is “eminently qualified” and one of the country’s most experienced politicians, Nigeria’s political balance makes his candidacy unlikely to succeed.
Southern Tenure Must Be Completed
Okupe argued that the unwritten agreement of power rotation between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions must be respected. He noted that after eight years of northern leadership under former President Muhammadu Buhari, it is only fair that the south be allowed to serve a full two terms before any northern candidate can realistically seek the presidency.
“Atiku failed in 2023, not because he wasn’t competent or capable,” Okupe explained, “but because Nigerians could not accept the idea of another northern Muslim succeeding Buhari. That sentiment still persists today.”
He elaborated further, saying: “If Atiku contests in 2027, he has every constitutional right to do so. However, geopolitics remains a barrier. A southerner would have only completed four years by then, and the agreement is clear—when a northerner completes eight years, a southerner is expected to do the same.”
Okupe’s remarks reflect a widely acknowledged, though unofficial, principle in Nigerian politics: maintaining a balance between the country’s northern and southern regions to foster national unity.
Tinubu’s Performance Shapes 2027 Dynamics
The former Labour Party (LP) chieftain also highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s governance since his victory in 2023 as a factor that will make it challenging for opposition candidates, including Peter Obi, to unseat him in 2027.
“Obi is a young, dynamic, and ambitious leader,” Okupe said. “But let’s face it, President Tinubu is already demonstrating a clear purpose, zeal, and direction for Nigeria’s progress. Removing him will be an uphill task for any challenger.”
Okupe praised Tinubu’s leadership, likening his long-term vision to that of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. He stated, “Tinubu’s clarity of purpose reminds me of what Lee Kuan Yew did for Singapore. It took 31 years to transform Singapore from a struggling nation to a first-world country. Nigeria needs a similar focused leadership.”
Obi’s Chances in 2027
Okupe also weighed in on Peter Obi’s potential bid for the presidency in 2027. He acknowledged Obi’s strengths but emphasized the challenges of defeating an incumbent president with visible achievements.
“Obi can contest,” he said. “He’s young, energetic, and has a strong following. But geopolitics remains a crucial factor in a country like ours, which is still grappling with issues of national unity.”
Okupe suggested that Tinubu’s incumbency and the ongoing progress of his administration could make it difficult for Obi to gain the necessary traction.
Alliance Politics: A Futile Endeavor?
Discussing the possibility of alliances among opposition figures such as Atiku, Obi, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Okupe expressed skepticism about their effectiveness.
“I’ve been in politics for over 40 years,” Okupe said. “I’ve participated in numerous alliance talks, and the same issues persist—selfishness and lack of compromise. In Nigeria, we haven’t matured to the point where leaders can make concessions for the greater good.”
Okupe pointed to the successful alliance that brought Buhari to power in 2015, crediting Tinubu for its success. “Back then, Tinubu made significant concessions to ensure the alliance worked. But today, I doubt if Atiku, Obi, or Kwankwaso would be willing to step aside for one another. It’s unlikely to happen,” he said.
A Warning Against Endless Political Bickering
Okupe issued a cautionary note to Nigeria’s political class, urging them to focus on the country’s development rather than endless power struggles.
“We can either move forward as a nation or continue playing divisive politics that only hurt our children’s future,” he said. “We are lucky to have a president who understands what needs to be done. We must rally behind him to make meaningful progress.”
